DIMAPUR, JUNE 2 (MExN): The All Nagaland School Teachers Association has written to the Principal Director of School Education on what it stated were its “observations on the poor results of government schools in the HSLC examination and suggestions thereof”.
The ANSTA hoped that the observations would serve as a reference material for the department in taking necessary corrective measures for academic improvement of Government Schools in the near future. In the recently declared HSLC Examination result, 26 Government Schools got nil results along with many poorly performed schools, observed the ANSTA in its detailed observation. This was issued in a note issued by its President, Ponchulo Wanth; General Secretary, P. Vashum, Vice President, Lipiri Sangtam; Joint Secretary, Visato Koso and Treasurer, Temjen Yapang.
While stating that many factors can be attributed for the poor performance of Government Schools, the observations/findings of the ANSTA have identified what it termed as the main causative factors responsible for the poor results of Government Schools in the HSLC Examination (See box).
According to the observation, the shortage of teachers in the school is due to non-posting of required teachers to the school; promotion without replacement; transfer along with posts and attachment to SDEO/DEO/DSE/VIP etc.
It said that if the shortage of teacher in the school is due to point 1& 2 as mentioned above, the government is held responsible for not posting the requisite number of teachers in time, stated the ANSTA. It added that if the shortage is due to point 3 & 4, then the department authority should be held responsible for entertaining/ considering the case of transferring out with posts from the school and allowing teachers to go on attachment to other establishments.
It was also observed that “insincerity of teachers is one of the root causes of the nil/poor results of Govt. Schools”. Hence, to check those insincere teachers, the ANSTA questioned as to whether any action has been taken against them by the responsible heads. “The concerned authority has liberty to use the strictest rule to check the insincere teachers. For example, if a teacher has availed excess casual leave beyond his/her entitlement for a year, the competent authority can impose principle of no work no pay upon any insincere teacher”, it stated.
The Association warned its insincere /non-performing members to be more dutiful. The poor performance of Government Schools is also due to the absence of Heads (HM/AHM) in the posting schools, it was observed while pointing out that in most of the nil producing schools, controlling officers are out of station due to which schools could not function well. “The sub-divisional and districts level officers should initiate necessary action against the irregular heads under respective jurisdiction”, it was suggested.
Another observation was the “weaknesses of school administration”, which according to the ANSTA was a factor for the poor results of government institution in the public exams. “In many nil and poorly performed schools, it has been observed that there is no binding rules and proper working guidelines for academic improvement. The heads are to adopt certain strategy(s) to improve the performance profile of the Schools”, it was suggested.
The ANSTA pointed out that the Government run schools follow an open door policy in admission to all. The students who have been issued with passed certificate (TC) by private schools because of some disciplinary problem and academically poor performers are being admitted to Government Schools, it observed.
It stated that most Government school students belong to the poorer sections of society and from rural backgrounds, whose parents are mostly illiterate. Therefore, to train them up at par with private counterparts is not an easy task, it stated.
The Association also stated that it had noticed that failure on the part of responsible heads to take prompt action against the erring heads/teachers (when necessary matter was reported to them) is also accountable for the poor results.
In view of above observations/findings, the ANSTA maintained that the situation is due to many reasons/factors as stated above. Therefore, playing blame game, it stated may not be justified. “The whole functionaries of the department are to be blamed”, the ANSTA said.
The Association added that it would extend its support and cooperation for the successful implementation of the suggestions if they are taken into consideration. It expressed that the authority, teachers, parents, community, etc need to work coordinately to draw out all round development of the students. The Association while accepting all positive criticisms, appealed to all stake holders of education to come out with constructive suggestions for a transformation of the educational system in the.
